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Geronimo: An American Legend

Geronimo: An American Legend

1993
Drama, Western
1h 55m
The Apache Indians have reluctantly agreed to settle on a US Government approved reservation. Not all the Apaches are able to adapt to the life of corn farmers. One in particular, Geronimo, is restless. Pushed over the edge by broken promises and necessary actions by the government, Geronimo and thirty or so other warriors form an attack team which humiliates the government by evading capture, while reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. (imdb)
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Geronimo: An American Legend

1993
Drama, Western
1h 55m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 44.25% from 195 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(195)
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Rated 21 Nov 2020
60
48th
Well made but slightly bloodless. It depicts Native Americans as neither savages or victims; they are simply people resorting to violence as a means to protect themselves from certain extinction. While Geronimo is portrayed in a slightly heroic fashion, he is a hard stoic man whose relentless battle against inevitable defeat is tinged with tragedy. On the downside, Milius' script is full of overripe dialogue, and Hill keeps us at a remove from onscreen events without offering any real analysis.
Rated 27 Mar 2021
95
97th
>Dances with Wolves. Unsatisfactory story goes against all other westerns with the good guys riding off in the sunset. None of the major characters get that treatment here, including the well-meaning white officers played by Damon and Patric. Adding "An American Legend" to the title emphasizes this is first and foremost a part of American history. Real Chato got betrayed by Pres. Cleveland after accepting a medal from him. Fav scene: shooting the medicine man was a turning point.
Rated 26 Aug 2022
40
26th
The filmmakers depict the obvious truth that the US government broke every promise and behaved abominably, while still trying to convey a moderately morally complex picture of both sides. Nevertheless, it seems as if something must have gone wrong somewhere, with an odd script that talks its way through scenes but without really giving the audience a good handle on either events or characters. Patric can certainly ride a horse but his performance is restrained to the point of being nonexistent.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
36
41st
#90s#, story
Rated 12 Mar 2014
40
32nd
This movie highlights the plight of American Indians during a bleak time in American history. This movie exposes the horrific treatment they received by the US government over the long campaign of Indian pacification. It also exposes the unfair treatment anyone who sympathized with the Indian received. I intensely disliked that there was so much Indian language spoken. A sad true story that needed to be told, but should have been told better.
Rated 09 Mar 2008
67
42nd
Acting of the stiffest order sabotoges an otherwise strong movie.
Rated 29 Mar 2012
77
23rd
As I recall, Geronimo: An American Legend isn't an incredible history movie like most. Most are good with a mix of laugh's, action, and obviously a historical view, this one has that but I've just seen better.
Rated 18 Jul 2009
60
85th
Hill has made better Westerns before: _The Long Riders_, the modern-dress _Extreme Prejudice_. In fact he has made better Westerns when he was not making a Western: _The Driver_, _The Warriors_, _Streets of Fire_. But this one (with no small debt to _Dances with Wolves_) has enabled him to come out of hiding, to throw off the camouflage, and to express openly a sentiment common to Westerns, though a new one to Hill: a quasi-anthropological tristesse over a fading way of life.
Rated 02 Oct 2020
85
59th
Viewed October 1, 2020. The moral shading of Ford or Eastwood rendered with a force and sense of high tragedy that's pure Walter Hill.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
90
90th
The best of Walter Hill's films, and one of the very best Westerns ever made. It has an intelligent script, terrific performances (especially Wes Studi as Geronimo, but also Jason Patric as a Virginia cavalry officer), and well-edited action sequences. A much under-rated and under-appreciated film.
Rated 15 Feb 2021
75
60th
While the title presumes a biopic about Geronimo, it is a much about the men who hunted them as Geronimo himself. The movie clearly tries to give a nuanced depiction of both sides, showing the cruelties both sides commit but also showing respect for the morals and culture of both side. Trying also to understand the reason what drives them to these acts. It features some very intense and intentionally chaotic action sequences
Rated 23 Apr 2015
70
45th
Wes Studi needs to be in more movies.
Rated 13 May 2007
60
47th
Surprisingly not thrilling, given Walter Hill's affinity for Westerns
Rated 09 Jan 2011
88
57th
very interesting movie, pleasantly surprised by this one, came on a movie channel and I wasn't expecting anything. It really is a terrible thing that happened to the indians. No Justice whatsoever for people who simply have a different way of living life and fought against the expansion to preserve what they know. Great performances by everyone involved. Death to White-eye!
Rated 03 Jul 2012
56
22nd
55.500
Rated 01 Feb 2010
64
40th
Not nearly as bad as you would expect. Robert Duvall loves embodying "Western", and a young Matt Damon is a highlight.
Rated 16 Oct 2021
62
65th
This movie plays out as more of a conventional epic drama than a western, which works for the most part. On the other hand, I think it lacks a lot of emotional cartharsis to be particularly impactful and doesn't lean in hard enough on depicting the cruelties of either side. However, I do appreciate it insofar as it doesn't go light on how the Apache were treated and how the Apache themselves were less than kind with their response to this.
Rated 25 Feb 2022
70
42nd
With Walter Hill directing from a John Milius script, and Gene Hackman also on hand, I expected to love this one, but really ... I just kind of like it. It's a gorgeous film with a wonderful Ry Cooder score, but it doesn't quite hold together for me. I think the decision to tell the story from Damon's perspective is a bit of a mistake, partly because his narration feels unnecessary and lends the film an odd, episodic feel, and partly because Damon's performance isn't too good.
Rated 03 Sep 2023
47
30th
Mostly lifeless characters, a slow pace and some rather monotone action.
Rated 11 Sep 2023
60
35th
Great cast, acting, and sweeping scenes of vast wilderness. It just doesn't bite very deep into the subject and at times it's just kind of meandering on. There's that constant feeling that the movie is afraid of showing something or getting deeper into the story. Jason Patrick, Gene Hackman, and Wes Studi give solid performances, but in my mind, Robert Duvall is the most amazing of them all. A pretty solid western, either way, even if it tries a bit too much to be a sweeping epic.

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